Marchers tell public not to forget massacre

Family members of victims of the 228 Massacre place flowers on the commemorative plaque in 228 Peace Memorial Park in Taipei yesterday.

Photo: Wang Min-wei, Taipei Times

Hundreds of people marched in the streets of Taipei yesterday to commemorate the 66th anniversary of the 228 Incident, urging the public not to forget the tragedy and ensuing White Terror era, which wiped out almost an entire generation of Taiwan’s elite.

Representatives from various civic groups and victims’ families joined the parade, which started at Yongle Market at 2:28pm and ended at Liberty Square.

The march, held under the theme of “Never forget the March massacre,” has become an annual ritual to commemorate victims of the bloody suppression of anti-government uprisings that began on Feb. 27, 1947, resulting in the deaths of tens of thousands of civilians.

In a speech at Yongle Market, Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Chairman Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌) lamented the death of many Taiwanese leaders and intellectuals in the “March crackdown (三月清鄉).”

The compensation for victims’ families should be paid by the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT), the perpetrator of the massacre, and not taxpayers, Su said, adding that the “real history” should be included in textbooks and taught in school because the public is entitled to know the truth about the tragedy.

“Most important of all, Taiwanese should have the self-awareness to be their own master and determine their own fate,” Su said.

Former DPP chairperson Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) called on the public to have the courage to keep moving forward and fight for democracy like their predecessors, who persevered despite having to endure state violence in the 228 Massacre and the ensuing White Terror period during which democracy and freedom were non-existent.

Taiwan Solidarity Union Chairman Huang Kun-huei (黃昆輝) said the 228 Massacre was the result of forcibly merging two different cultures, with one side holding a military advantage.

Taiwan’s current status is similar to that in 1947, as China and some Taiwanese politicians have been trying to merge the two sides by force, with Beijing enjoying superior military capability, he said.

“If Taiwanese failed to learn from the past, there could be another 228 Incident,” Huang said.

Waving flags and holding chrysanthemums, participants in the march reached Liberty Square after about one hour.

While most of the participants were senior citizens, young people joined them at the square, where a music festival and speeches were held in the evening.

Pro-independence groups and students associations from universities across the country set up tents at the square. A bulletin board describing the 228 Massacre was also set up to help people understand the tragic incident.

The master of ceremonies, a preacher from Taiwan Presbyterian Church, spoke in Mandarin throughout the event to help Chinese tourists at the square — a popular sightseeing spot — understand what the ceremony was about.

The evening session was co-organized by various student groups to help people remember the massacre “in a lighter, but still serious” way, said Lin Kai-hsiang (林楷翔), a co-convener of the event, which was titled “Symbiosis Music Festival (共生音樂節).”

Several bands, including Kou Chou Ching (拷秋勤) and Fire Ex (滅火器), performed and a number of university professors spoke at the festival.

In response to reporters’ questions about tightened security at the 228 memorial ceremony, Tsai expressed regret over the measure.